The Ministry of Waterways is focusing on dredging the Ba River to increase the depth and width of the river channel and allowing it to carry more water which can also reduce the chances of flooding during heavy rainfall following concerns raised about flood issues faced in Ba earlier this year.
Ministry of Waterways Director, Marau Vuli has revealed this after Government Ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Public Private Partnership Project for Emergency Desilting Works of Rivers and Creeks in Fiji for flood mitigation reasons.
The MOU is aimed at mitigating flood risks and adapting to the impacts of climate change in Fiji.
Vuli says they have engaged in the Public Private Partnership project because it's a government initiative and it has its own framework.
He adds they also have their own programs which will address flood mitigation needs.
The Director says the programs they will work on are drainage on flat land, maintenance for drainage works, drainage for farmlands and dredging of rivers.
He says the workout of their program will depend on the approval of the budget allocation from their ministry and the Ministry of Economy.
